Riverside
Police Department
Press Release

For Immediate Release

Date

June 10, 2001

Contact

Sergeant John DeLaRosa

Phone

(909) 320-8005

Fax

(909) 320-8043

Officer Involved Shooting

Riverside, Ca- On Sunday, June 10, 2001, at
approximately 12:20 P.M., officers from the Riverside Police Department
responded to a 911 call of a reported stabbing victim requesting assistance in
the 6800 block of Phoenix. The caller informed the Communications Dispatcher the
suspect was crouched in front of the garage at 6848 Phoenix armed with at least
one knife.

The first officer to arrive parked near the residence. As the
officer stepped out of the patrol unit a subject approached him carrying a fixed
blade knife in each hand. The officer ordered the suspect to drop the knives and
repeatedly shouted for him to stop. The suspect ignored the officers repeated
orders and continued to advance. The officer backed away from the suspect, but
the suspect continued to advance on the officer. The suspect raised the knives
with both arms outstretched and charged the officer. The officer discharged his
weapon striking the suspect multiple times in the upper body. Medical personnel
had already staged nearby and were immediately called in to treat the suspect.
The suspect was transported to Riverside Community Hospital where he was
pronounced dead at approximately 12:48 P.M.

Investigators confirmed that the suspect had initially
attacked one of the nearby residents with the knives. The victim struggled with
the suspect and managed to free himself and go to a neighbor’s residence for
assistance. Medical personnel at the scene treated the victim for wounds
received during the attack. The victim was unable to offer any explanation or
motive for the suspect’s actions.

The suspect was identified as Vanpaseuth Phaisouphanh,
25-years-old of Riverside.

In accordance with Department policy the officer was placed
on administrative leave as is customary for all officers involved in incidents
of this type.

Anyone with further information related to this investigation
is asked to contact Detective Vic Williams at (909) 320-8024 or Detective Fred
Kelvington at (909) 320-8062.